"The Restaurateur" - Film Screening and Discussion with Ray Gilmore

Danny Meyer: The Restaurateur - A Film Screening Followed by Discussion with Ray Gilmore Sunday, January 26 at 3 PM at the Mark Twain Library.

American chef and food writer James Beard once said, "Food is our common ground, a universal experience." Indeed, we gather at the table to savor a dining experience for many reasons: to enjoy each other's company; to celebrate an accomplishment; to mend fences. It is an opportunity to stop and 'be in the moment'.

For those who run dining establishments, delivering exceptional fare and memorable occasions is a round-the-clock, seven-day a week operation. To get a glimpse into the inner workings of this world, the Mark Twain Library will screen the award-winning documentary Danny Meyer: The Restaurateur on Sunday, January 26 at 3 PM. The film, with a run time of 57 minutes, will be followed by a discussion with Ray Gilmore, Redding resident and proprietor of Cibo, a restaurant in midtown Manhattan.

Winner of the 2010 Best Food Documentary, Sonoma International Festival and Best Documentary, Big Apple Film Festival, the film chronicles 11 months in the life of Danny Meyer, one of America's preeminent restaurateurs. Already the owner of two fine dining establishments in New York City, the documentary captures Mr. Meyer's quest to open two new restaurants: Tabla and Eleven Madison Park, both located in Madison Square Park. The filmmaker portrays the pain-staking process from beginning to end, including the excitement of formulating a vision and creating the plans to the frustration of construction delays, missed deadlines and dismissal of a chef. Currently, Mr. Meyer's restaurants include the Union Square Café, Gramercy Tavern, Blue Smoke and Jazz Standard, Shake Shack and many others. In addition, Mr. Meyer authored the New York Times best seller Setting the Table and co-authored The Union Square Café Cookbook.

Following the film, Ray Gilmore will reveal what Danny Meyer has 'up his sleeve' in the coming year, with time allotted for questions from the audience. Beyond "youth and enthusiasm", Mr. Gilmore will share a story or two and offer his own insight about how to develop a thriving dining establishment. Like Mr. Meyer, the restaurant business was not his first career. A former police officer for the NYPD, who moonlighted during the day as a waiter and maitre d', Mr. Gilmore left the force in 1983 to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant. That year, he and a partner launched Roebling's in South Street Seaport. It was an overnight success.

Then, in 1995, he opened Cibo, (Italian for food), in the midtown section of Manhattan. Eighteen years later, the restaurant continues to flourish. Mr. Gilmore lives in Redding with his wife, Mavi and two children. He is an active volunteer in the community and church.

Admission to the library program is free; refreshments will be served. To register, go to www.marktwainlibrary.org, phone 203-938-2545, or sign up at the circulation desk. This program is sponsored by the Mark Twain Library Programming Committee.